Manually operable film-advancing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Photographic apparatus including film-engaging apparatus mounted in position to engage a thin, flexible film unit near its trailing end and move it, subsequent to exposure, into the bite of a pair of pressure-applying members. The pressure-applying members rupture a container of processing liquid located near a leading end of the film unit and spread the processing liquid across a photo-sensitive element of the film unit while simultaneously continuing the movement of the film unit toward the exterior of the photographic apparatus. The film-engaging apparatus and at least one of the pressure-applying members are driven by a manually operated crank. Rotation of the crank is limited, by a pivotally mounted stop, to that which is necessary to advance the exposed film unit out of engagement with the pressure-applying members. The stop is temporarily rendered inoperative by actuation of a shutter release button to enable rotation of the crank to advance the next succeeding exposed film unit. Rotation of the crank, subsequent to actuation of the shutter release, is effective to recock the shutter of the photographic apparatus.

msrse t. 11, 1973 United States Patent 11 1 Eloranta et al.

[ MANUALLY OPERABLE FlLM-ADVANCING 5 7 ABSTRACT Photographic apparatusincluding APPARATUS filmratus mounted in position to engage a thin unitnear its trailing end and move it, subsequent to exposure, into the biteof a pair of pressurea 8 me b a m @b a a c N w my fi m a n m a P M .S rI 0 E M C .m Km m 0. m mm a aeo o VBb P m m n .w w a .m A l 5 3 7 7 lmembers. The pressure-applying members rupture a container of processingliquid located near a leading end of the film unit and spread theprocessing liquid across a photo-sensitive element of the film unitwhile simultaneously continuing the movement of the film Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 unit toward the exterior of the photographicapparatus. The filmengaging apparatus and at least one of thepressure-applying members are driven by a manually operated crank.Rotation of the crank is limited, by a 3 mmw WWS P smh A UIF i [llpivotally mounted stop, to that which is necessary to References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS advance the exposed film unit out of engagementwith I the pressure-applying members. The stop is temporar- 95/13 ilyrendered inoperative by actuation of a shutter re- 95/13 lease button toenable rotation of the crank to advance 95/13 the next succeedingexposed film unit. Rotation of the 95/ crank, subsequent to actuation ofthe shutter release, is effective to recock the shutter of thephotographic apparatus.

3,618,493 Erlichman...............................

3,691,920 9/1972 Harvey........

3,320,865 5/1967 Good 641,268 6/1900 Chase Primary Examiner-Samuel S.Matthews Assistant- Examiner--Alan Mathews Attorney-Alfred E. Corriganet al.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures EEI PATENTEI] SEPI I I973 SHEET 2 OF 2MANUALLY OPERABLE FILM-ADVANCING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Photographic apparatus of theself-developing type having manually operated film-advancing apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art Photographic apparatus of theself-developing type are generally provided with film-advancingapparatus which are either driven by a source of energy, e.g., a batteryoperated motor, or are driven manually. While film-advancing apparatusof the former type may have certain advantages as regard manuallyoperated filmadvancing apparatus, they also have numerous disadvantages,e.g., dependence upon a source of energy which may drop to a levelwhereat it can no longer operate the film-advancing apparatus, therebypossibly resulting in the photographer being unable to expose andprocess all of the film units located within the photographic apparatus;also, their relative complexity and attendant higher costs place them atan economic disadvantage relative to manually operated filmadvancingapparatus. Although photographic apparatus having manually operatedfilm-advancing apparatus obviate the above disadvantages, the state ofthe art is such that there is a need for a manually operatedfilmadvancing system which will completely process an exposed film unitin response to a single act by the photographer. Generally, the manuallyoperated filmadvancing systems presently available require thephotographe'r to perform a series of acts in order to move an exposedfilm unit out of its exposure position and through a pair ofpressure-applying rollers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION such that one revolution of the crank willdrive at least one of the pair of rollers for a period of timesufficient to completely advance a film unitthrough the bite of therollers. The film-advancing apparatus further includes a film-engagingmember which is adapted to extend into an opening formed in a trailingend wall and forward wall of a film cassette and drivingly engage atrailing end of the foremost film unit therein prior to advancing thefilm unit, subsequent to exposure, leading end first, through an exitopening in the cassette and into the bite of the rollers. Thefilm-engaging member is mounted within the camera for reciprocatingmovement toward and away from the rollers. The structure forreciprocally mounting the film-engaging member includes an elongatedsupport member having one of its ends connected to the film-engagingmember and its other end formed with a recess for receiving a pinmounted on a face of the drive gear. Rotary motion of the drive gear iseffective to transfer linear motion to the elongated support member andfilm-engaging member for moving the film-engaging member toward therollers. After the drive gear has been rotated through a predeterminednumber of degrees, the pin moves out of the recess and the elongatedsupport member and film-engaging member are returned to their originalposition under the bias of a spring.

The film-advancing apparatus is provided with a pivotally mounted stopwhich initially engages a land on the crank for preventing rotation ofthe crank in a direction to drive the film-engaging member. The stop ismaintained in its operative, locking position against a spring bias by aplurality of levers which are in turn coupled with the camera's shutterrelease button. Actuation of the shutter release button is effective topivot the levers to a position in which the stop is allowed to move toan inoperative position thereby allowing the photographer to turn thecrank through 360". Initial rotation of the crank moves thefilm-engaging member toward the rollers, at least one of which is nowbeing driven by the crank. As the film-engaging member moves toward therotating rollers it engages the trailing end of the exposed film unitand moves it, leading end first, through an exit opening in a leadingend wall of the cassette and into the bite of the rollers. At thispoint, the pin on the drive gear leaves the recess in the elongatedsupport member thereby allowing the latter and the film-engaging memberto return to their original positions. The rollers continue to advancethe exposed film unit away from its exposure position at a rate at leastequal to that at which it was being advanced by the film-engaging memberthereby preventing buckling of the exposed film unit as it enters thebite of the rollers. The rollers rupture a container of processingliquid located near the leading edge of the exposed film unit and spreadthe contents thereof across a photosensitive element of the exposed filmunit to initiate a diffusion transfer process, as is well known in theart. As the exposed film unit is being advanced through the rollers, itsleading end passes through an exit slot in a forward wall of the camera.The exit slot is provided with a flexible member which normallyfunctions as a light seal, but, when deflected by the leading end of theadvancing film unit, functions as a means for releasably retaining thefilm unit after it has moved out of engagement with the rollers. Duringthe latter portion of rotating the crank through 360, a second pinmounted on the drive gear is rotated into engagement with another pinmounted on one of the levers to move the stop, against its spring bias,into a position wherein it will engage the crank as it completes onerevolution, thereby ending the cycle. As noted above, a second cyclecannot be commenced until the stop has been moved to an inoperativeposition by actuation of the shutter release button. Therefore, rotationof the crank is effective to move only one film unit for each actuationof the shutter release button. Stated another way, operation of thefilmadvancing apparatus is limited to moving only the foremost exposedfilm unit in the film cassette. Finally, in order to maximize theefficiency of the camera, a cam is fixedly mounted on the crank shaftand is located in engagement with a shutter recocking arm such that thecameras shutter is recocked during each revolution of the crank.

An object of the invention is to provide photographic apparatus havingmanually operated film-advancing apparatus for engaging an exposed filmunit near a trailing end thereof and advancing the exposed filmv unitleading end first into engagement with a pair of pressure-applyingmembers. j

Another object of the invention is the provision of manually operableflim-advancing apparatus having means for limiting the cycle ofoperation thereof to the advancement of a single exposed film unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of manually operablefilm-advancing apparatus requiring only one operation by a user toadvance an exposed film unit from its exposure position and through apair of pressure-applying members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a camera of theself-developing type having manually operable film-advancing apparatusrequiring only one operation by the user to process a previously exposedfilm unit and deliver the processed film unit to the user.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing theconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which areexemplified in the following. detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of theinvention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section of photographicapparatus embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG.1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded view, in perspective, of components ofthe instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is'now made to FIG. 1 ofthe drawings wherein is shown photographic apparatus in the form of acamera of the self-developing type. Camera 10 includes a housing definedby a top wall 12, depending side walls 14, 16, 18 and 20, and a bottomwall 22 which is pivotally connected to side wall 16 by a pianotypehinge 24 and which functions as a loading door. Extending upwardly fromtop wall 12 are a conventional rangefinder and/or viewfinder 26 and ashutter release button 28. Wall 14 is formed with a pair ofspaced,outwardly directed flanges 30 and 32 (see FIG. 2) which extendsubstantially from wall 18 to wall to define an exit slot 34 throughwhich a film unit may exit from the camera. An elongated strip 36 ofresilient opaque material is attached at one end to an interior surfaceof wall 14 and has its free end 38 in engagement with flange 34.Resilient strip 36 extends across the entire length of slot 34 toprevent light from entering the interior of the camera via the slot 34.Wall 14 further includes an opening 40 for receiving a lens and shutterassembly 42.

Camera 10 is adapted to receive a film assemblage including a cassette44 having therein a plurality of thin, discrete and'flexible film units46 (only two being shown) and a resilient pressure plate 48. The filmassemblage is located in position for exposure of the foremost film unitby an angle bracket 50 and spring 52 mounted on the interior surface ofwall 22, spring 52 urging the film assemblage against support members 54and 56. Cassette 44 includes a forward wall 58 having an exposureaperture 60, and an opening 62 (see FIG. 1) therein for receiving a filmengaging member as will be more fully explained hereinafter. A leadingend wall 64 of the cassette has an exit opening 66 therein which isdimensioned to allow the passage therethrough of a single film unit asit is advanced into the bite of a pair of pressure-applying members 68and 70, herein shown as a pair of rollers.

The camera is provided with a unique manually operable film-advancingapparatus for moving a film unit,

subsequent to exposure, from the cassette 44, through the rollers 68 and70, and out exit slot 34 in the camera. Specifically, the film-advancingapparatus includes a pair of rollers 68 and 70, manually operable meansin the form of a crank 72 drivingly coupled to roller 68 by a drive gear74 and a driven gear 76 fixedly attached to one end of roller 68, andthe film-advancing means 78. Crank 72 is pivotally connected to anexterior surface of wall 18 by a shaft 80 which extends through anopening 82 in wall 18. Shaft 80 includes a portion 84 which is adaptedto receive a collar 86 having a set screw 88 for securing crank 72against movement away from wall 18. Shaft 80 also includes a portion 90of reduced diameter which extends through (I) an opening 92 in a supportplate 94, (2) an opening 96 in drive gear 74, (3 an opening 98 in aplate 100, and (4) through an opening 102 in a cam 104. Mounted adjacentto and in contact with the peripheral surface of cam 104 is one end 106of a shutter recocking arm (only a portion being shown) which ispivotally intermediate its ends to the camera and has its other endconnected to the blades of the lens and shutter assembly 42 such thatupward and downward movement of end 106 moves the shutter blades into acocked position. From the foregoing it can be seen that counterclockwiserotation (as viewed in FIG. 3) of crank 72 will rotate drive gear 74 andcam 104 in a similar direction. Rotation of drive gear 74 in the mannerdescribed is transferred to roller 68 via gear 76, mounted on a shaft69, to rotate roller 68 in a clockwise direction. Rotation of cam 104 inthe manner described is effective to rock end 166 of the shutterrecocking arm (end 106 being in engagement with portion 108 of cam 106at the start of the cycle) to recock the blades of the shutter.

Counterclockwise rotation of crank 72 (as viewed in FIG. 3) is alsoeffective to move a film-advancing means 78 toward the rollers 68 and70. 'As shown in FIG. 3, film-advancing means 78 includes an elongatedsupport member 110 mounted on a pair of fixed support brackets 112 and l14 for reciprocating movement via a slot and rivet arrangement 116, 118,116' and 118'. A film-engaging member 120 is pivotally coupled to oneend of support member 110 by a rivet 122 extending through holes 124 and126 in the film-engaging member and support member. The film-engagingmember is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 128 located on theshaft of rivet 122. The spring includes a first end 130 attached tosupport member 110 and a second end 132 attached to one end of a pin I34extending through film-engaging member 120. The other end of pin 130rides in a slot 131 in support member 110 for limiting rotation offilm-engaging member in a clockwise direction. Film-engaging member 120includes a first portion 136 which is adapted to engage a top surface ofa film unit and a second portion 138 which is adapted to engage the filmunit along its trailing end. The distance between the end of portion 138and portion 136 is such that the film-engaging member can engage onlyone film unit, i.e., the foremost film unit, at a time. The other end ofelongated support member 1 is provided with a recess 140 for receiving apin 142 mounted on a face of drive gear 74.

At the start of each cycle, pin 142 is located in recess 140. Initialrotation of crank 72 in a counterclockwise manner (as viewed in FIG. 3)rotates gear 74 and pin 142 in a similar manner thereby moving elongatedsupport member 1 10 and film-engaging member 120 to the left (as viewedin FIG. 3) to advance the foremost film unit 46 into the bite of rollers68 and 70. After pin 142 has been rotated through a predetermined angle,it leaves recess 140 thereby allowing the film-advancing means 76 to bereturned to its original position (as shown in FIG. 1) by a spring 144having one end attached to a lug 146 on plate 94 and its other endattached to rivet 118. As gear 74 completes one revolution, pin 142moves back into recess 140 in preparation for the next cycle.

Crank 72 is provided with means for initially prevent-- ing rotation ofthe crank in the wrong direction, i.e., in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 3. These means take thefo'rm of a stop 148 pivotallysecured to wall 94 by rivet 150 and having suitable means such as aspring 152 and stop pin 154 (see FIG. 1) for resiliently biasing stop148 in a clockwise direction into the position shown in FIG. 1. Stop 154includes an outwardly turned flange 156 which is positioned to engage abottom surface of an arm 158 extending from collar 86 to preventcounterclockwise rotation of crank 72 from the position shown in FIG. 1.From an inspection of FIG. 1 it can be seen that stop 148 does notprevent clockwise rotation of crank 72, i.e., as crank 72 approaches thecompletion of one revolution in a clockwise direction, arm 158 rotatesinto engagement with the face of flange 156 and cams it and stop 148 ina counterclockwise direction against the bias of spring 152 until arm158 reaches a substantially horizontal position wherein stop 148 movesback under arm 158. Alternatively, stop 148 and arm 158 could bereplaced by a conventional one-way clutch which would prevent rotationof crank 72 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1.

The photographic apparatus further includes disen abling means movablefrom a first position in which it prevents rotation of crank 72 in adirection to advance a film unit from the cassette and a second positionwherein the crank may be rotated. The disenabling means includes firstand second levers 160 and 162 pivotally attached to opposite sides ofwall 18 by a rivet 164 such that movement of arm 162 will produce asimilar movement of arm 160. Stated another way, rivet 164 couples arms160 and 162 together for movement between a first operative position,shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, wherein a flange 166 on arm 160 is inposition to engage a land 168 on crank 72 to prevent rotation of crank72 in a direction to move a film unit out of the cassette 44, and asecond inoperative position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, whereinflange 166 is in alignment with a groove 170 in crank 72 and may berotated to advance the film unit. A spring 172 is attached atone end toarm 162 and at its other end to wall 18 for biasing the disenablingmeans toward the inoperative position. Spring 172 functions as a meansresponsive to actuation of the shutter release button 28 for moving thedisenabling means to the broken line position. When crank 72 is locatedin a horizontal position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, arms and 162 areheld in the solid line position by the engagement between arm 162 and atab 174 extending outwardly from a plate 176. Plate 176 is pivotallyconnected to support plate 94 by rivet 178. Plate 176 is biased in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, by a spring 180 having one endattached to plate 176 at 182 and its other end attached at 184 tosupport plate 94, but is maintained in the position shown by a latch186. Latch 186 is pivotally mounted on support plate 94 by a rivet 188and is biased in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1) by aspring 190 having one end attached to an upwardly extending arm 192 andits other end attached at 184 to support plate 94. Latch 186 includes afirst end 194 which is adapted to be positioned within a recess 196 inplate 176 for preventing clockwise rotation of plate 176 under theinfluence of spring 180, and a second end 198 positioned for engagementwith a shutter release arm 200. With reference to FIG. 1, it can be seenthat downward movement of shutter release button 28 moves the shutterrelease arm 200 downwardly to actuate the shutter and expose theforemost film unit. Downward movement of shutter release arm 200 movesit into engagement with end 198 of latch 186 to pivot the latter in aclockwise manner. Rotation of latch 186 in the manner just describedmoves end 194 of latch 186 out of recess 196 thereby allowing spring 180to pivot plate 176 in a clockwise manner. As plate 176 rotates in aclockwise manner (as viewed in FIG. 1), arm 162, under the bias ofspring 172, follows tab 174 until flange 166 on arm 160 moves to thebroken line position shown in FIG. 3, i.e., flange 166 is in alignmentwith recess 170. At this point, a pin 202, mounted in a slot 204 insupport plate 94 and attached at 206 to plate 176, bottoms out in theslot 204. After crank 76 has been rotated in a clockwise manner, asviewed in FIG. 1, a number of degrees sufficient for flange 166 to passthrough recess 170, the arm 160 is automatically moved back into itsoperative position, i.e., the solid line position wherein flange 166will engage land 168 as the crank reaches the end of one completerevolution. The structure for moving arm 160 back to the solid lineposition includes a pin 208 extending outwardly from one face of drivegear 74. As crank 72 rotates gear 74, pin 208 is rotated into engagementwith pin 202. Further rotation of gear 74 results in pin 208 moving pin202 and its attached plate in a clockwise manner, as seen in FIG. 3,until end 194 of latch 186 enters the recess 196 in plate 176. Duringthis movement tab 174 moves the arm 162 and arm 160 back into the solidline positions.

OPERATION At the beginning of each exposure cycle, the various parts ofthe camera are in the positions shown in FIG. 1, and a foremost filmunit 46, which may be of the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.3,415,644, is located in position for exposure with its trailing endlocated adjacent the film-engaging member 120 and its leading end inalignment with exitopening 66. Depression of shutter release button 28moves shutter release arm 200 downwardly to release the blades of theshutter and expose the foremost film unit 46 via light reflected by amirror 210. It will be noted that prior to actuation of the shutterrelease button 28 the crank 72 could not be rotated because of theinterference set up by arm 148 and the flange 166 on arm 160. As shutterrelease arm 200 moves downwardly, it engages end 198 of latch 186 andpivots it in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby movingend 194 of latch 186 out of recess 196 in plate 176. Once end 194 hasbeen moved out of recess 196, spring 180 pivots plate 176 in a clockwisemanner. This latter movement of plate 176 allows arms 160 and 162 to bepivoted to the broken line position, i.e., their inoperative position,under the influence of spring 172 thereby moving flange 166 on arm 160out of latching engagement with land 168 and into alignment with recess170 to allow rotation of crank 72 in a clockwise manner, as viewed inFIG. 1. The crank 72 is then rotated, as described, to simultaneouslydrive the film-advancing means 78 and the roller 68. As the drive ofcrank 72 is transmitted to the film-advancing means via theaforementioned cooperation between pin 142 on the rotating drive gear 74and recess 140, film-engaging member 120 drivingly engages the trailingend of the exposed film unit and advances it, leading end first, throughexit opening 66 in cassette 44 and into the bite of rollers 68 and 70.

As noted above, the leading end of the exposed film unit is located inalignment with exit opening 66 and, for that reason, should not bedeflected by the engagement of the film-engaging member to a positionwherein it is out of alignment with the exit opening. Accordingly, inorder to minimize any deflection of the leading end of the exposed filmunit, the exposed film unit is engaged at its trailing end.

When the exposed film unit enters the bite of rollers 68 and 70 therotation of roller 68 is transferred, through the film unit, to roller70. As the leading end of the exposed film unit enters the bite of therollers, pin 142 leaves recess 140 and the film-advancing means 78 isreturned to its original position by spring 144. The rotating rollers 68and 70 advance the exposed film unit toward the exterior of the camerawhile simultaneously rupturing a container of processing liquid 47attached near the leading end of the film unit and spreading thecontents thereof across a photosensitive element of the exposed filmunit to initiate a diffusion transfer process. The gear ratio betweengears 74 and 76 and the diameter of rollers 68 and 70 are selected suchthat the rollers 68 and 70 will advance the exposed film unit at a rateat least equal to that at which it was previously being advanced by thefilm-advancing means 78 thereby preventing any buckling of the film unitbetween the time that the leading end of the film unit enters the biteof rollers 68 and 70 and when the trailing end moves out of engagementwith the filmadvancing means 78. Upon leaving the bite of the rollers,the leading end of the film unit engages the opaque strip of resilientmaterial 38 and deflects it upwardly as the film unit moves throughe'xit slot 34. Strip 34 cooperates with flange 32 to releasably hold thefilm unit near its trailing end, after it moves out of engagement withthe rollers 68 and 70, until the photographer is ready to remove it.During the advancement of the exposed film unit by the rollers 68 and70, pin 208 on drive gear 74 is rotated into engagement with pin 202 torotate plate 176 in a counterclockwise direction, against the bias ofspring 180, until end 194 of latch 186 enters recess 186. The rotationof plate 176 is transferred to arm 162 via flange 174 to move the arms162 and back into the solid line position wherein flange 166 on arm 160will be located in position to engage the land 168 on crank 72 as thelatter reaches the end of one complete revolution. Also, the abovedescribed rotation of the crank is transferred by cam 104 to shutterrecocking arm 106 thereby recocking the shutter. The recocking arm 106is pivoted upwardly until the arm reaches the high point 109 on the cam.Thereafter, the high point 109 is rotated out of engagement with therecocking arm 106 and the latter, under the bias of a spring, dropsdownwardly onto portion 108 of cam 104 and the shutter is now ready foranother exposure. During the end of the cycle, i.e., as crank 72approaches the end of one complete revolution, arm 158 engages theflange 156 on arm 148 and cams the latter in a counterclockwisedirection (as viewed in FIG. 1) until arm 158 has reached a position inwhich arm 148 can return to the position shown in FIG. 1. In this latterposition, rotation of crank 72 in a counterclockwise direction isprevented by the engagement betweem arm 158 and the top edge of flange156, and clockwise rotation of crank 72 is prevented by the engagementbetween flange 166 and land 168. Once disenabled, crank 72 cannot berotated to advance the next film unit from the cassette until flange 166moves into alignment with recess 170 in response to actuation of theshutter release button.

From the foregoing it can be seen that there has been disclosed a novel,inexpensive and highly efficient, manually operable, film-advancingapparatus for use with cameras of the self-developing type. Thestructural cooperation between the various parts of-the apparatus issuch that the simple act of rotating a hand crank, subsequent tophotographically exposing a film unit, is all that is required todeliver the exposed film unit to the photographer in a condition whereinno further physical operations are necessary in order for the subjectphotographed to be viewed within a relatively short period of time,e.g., one minute. The operation of the film-advancing apparatus issubstantially foolproof in that the crank cannot be rotated until theforemost film unit in the cassette has been exposed, thereby obviatingthe possibility of advancing a non-exposed film unit from the camera,and, after the exposed film unit has been advanced to the exterior ofthe camera, the crank is disenabled before it can advance a second filmunit out of its exposure position. Rotation of the crank through onecycle, i.e., one revolution, is effective to (1) drive thefilm-advancing means, (2) drive at least one roller of thepressure-applying means, (3) recock the cameras shutter, and (4) move adisenabling means into position to limit rotation of the crank to onecycle per exposure.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein'involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the typeincluding a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereofthrough which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure,an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposureaperture, a plurality of discrete film units located within saidcassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in ,alignment with saidexit, a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising:

means for locating said film assemblage in said photographic apparatusin position for exposure of said foremost film unit;

means including a shutter release for exposing said foremost film unitthrough said exposure aperture in said cassette; film-advancing meansmounted in said photographic apparatus and adapted to extend into saidopening in said cassette to drivingly engage said foremost film unitnear said second end thereof and thereby move said foremost film unit,subsequent to exposure, through said exit in said cassette;

pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adapted todrivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit;

manually operable means, including a crank, engageable with saidfilm-advancing means and said pressure-applying means for driving saidfilmadvancing means and said pressure-applying means simultaneously tocontinuously move said foremost film unit from said cassette and betweensaid pressure-applying means and for driving said pressureapplying meansat a rate sufficient to at least maintain the rate of movement of saidforemost film unit as it is being advanced by said film-advancing means;

disenabling means; and

means for moving said disenabling means between a first operativeposition in which it prevents rotation of said crank to advance saidforemost film unit from said cassette and a second inoperative positionwherein said crank may be rotated to advance said foremost film unitfrom said cassette, said moving means includes means responsive toactuation of said shutter release for moving said disenabling means fromsaid first operative position to said second inoperative position,whereby rotation of said crank to advance said foremost film unit fromsaid cassette is possible only after actuation of said shutter release.

2. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said movingmeans moves said disenabling means from said second inoperative positionto said first operative position prior to said film-advancing meansmoving a succeeding film unit from said cassette, whereby said crank isprevented from driving said film-advancing means to advance saidsucceeding film unit until a subsequent actuation of said shutterrelease.

3. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the typeincluding a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereofthrough which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure,an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposureaperture, a plurality of discrete film units located within saidcassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment with said exit,a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in align ment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising:

means for locating said film assemblage in said photographic apparatusin position for exposure of said foremost film unit; shutter means forexposing said foremost film unit through said exposure aperture in saidcassette;

film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adaptedto extend into said opening in said cassette to drivingly engage saidforemost film unit near said second end thereof and thereby move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in saidcassette;

pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus andadapted todrivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit;

manually operable means, including a crank, engageable with saidfilm-advancing means and said pressure-applying means for driving saidfilmadvancing means and said pressure-applying means to continuouslymove said foremost film unit from said cassette and between saidpressure-applying means; and

means engageable with said shutter means and responsive to actuation ofsaid manually operable means for cooking said shutter means subsequentto exposure of said foremost film unit, said means for cocking saidshutter means includes a cam mounted for rotation by said crank.

4. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the typeincluding a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereofthrough which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure,an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposureaperture, a plurality of discrete film units located within saidcassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment with said exit,a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising:

means for locating said film assemblage in said photographic apparatusin position for exposure of said foremost film unit;

shutter means including a release for exposing said foremost film unitthrough said exposure aperture in said cassette;

film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adaptedto extend into said opening in said cassette to drivingly engage saidforemost film unit near said second end thereof and thereby move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in saidcassette; pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adaptedto drivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit;

manually operable means engageable with said filmadvancing means andsaid pressure-applying means for driving said film-advancing means andsaid pressure-applying means to continuously move said foremost filmunit from said cassette and between said pressure applying means; and

disenabling means cooperable with said manually operable means forpreventing the removal of more than one film unit for each actuation ofsaid shutter release.

5. Photograhic apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said manuallyoperable means include a crank pivotally coupled to said photographicapparatus and said disenabling means is mounted for movement into thepath of rotation of said crank for limiting rotation thereof 6.Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said disenablingmeans is movable in response to actuation of said shutter release to aposition which permits rotation of said crank to move said foremost filmunit out of said container and into engagement with saidpressure-applying means.

7. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the typeincluding a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereofthrough which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure,an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposureaperture, a plurality of discrete film units located within saidcassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into' a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment with said exit,a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising:

means for locating said film assemblage in said photographic apparatusin position for exposure of said foremost film unit; means for exposingsaid foremost film unit through said exposure aperture in said cassette;

film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adaptedto extend into said opening in said cassette to drivingly engage saidforemost film unit near said second end thereof and thereby move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in saidcassette;

pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adapted todrivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit; and

manually operable means engageable with said filmadvancing means andsaid pressure-applying means for driving said film-advancing means andsaid pressure-applyingmeans to continuously move said foremost film unitfrom said cassette and between said pressure-applying means, saidmanually operable means includes rotatable means having means thereonmovable into and out of driving engagement with said film-advancingmeans during each revolution of said rotatable means, said means beingmovable out of driving engagement with said film-advancing means whensaid foremost film unit is in engagement with said pressure-applyingmeans.

8. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the typeincluding a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereofthrough which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure,an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposureaperture, a plurality of discrete film units located within saidcassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment with said exit,a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising:

means for locating said film assemblage in said photographic apparatusin position for exposure of said foremost film unit; means for exposingsaid foremost film unit through said exposure aperture in said cassette;film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adaptedto extend into said opening in said cassette to drivingly engage saidforemost film unit near said second end thereof and thereby move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in saidcassette;

pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adapted todrivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit;

manually operable means engageable with said filmadvancing means andsaid pressure-applying means for driving said film-advancing means andsaid pressure-applying means to continuously move said foremost filmunit from said cassette and between said pressure-applying means; and

means for predeterminedly locating said manually operable means aftersaid foremost film unit has moved out of engagement with saidpressureapplying means.

9. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said locatingmeans prevents actuation of said manually operable means until saidforemost film unit has been exposed.

B0. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the typeincluding a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereofthrough which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure,an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposureaperture, a plurality of discrete film units located within saidcassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment with said exit,a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising:

means for locating said film assemblage in said photographic apparatusin position for exposure of said foremost film unit;

means for exposing said foremost film unit through said exposureaperture in said cassette; film-advancing means mounted in saidphotographic apparatus and adapted to extend into said opening 13 14 insaid cassette to drivingly engage said foremost advancing means and saidpressure-applying means film unit ncar said second end thereof andthereby for driving said film-advancing means and said move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to expopressure-applying means tocontinuously move said sure, through said exit in said cassette;foremost film unit from said cassette and between pressure-applyingmeans mounted in said apparatus said pressure-applying means; and

and adapted to drivingly engage said first end of means for preventingmovement ofsaid foremost film said foremost film unit after it movesthrough said unit by said film advancing means until said foreexit andspread a processing liquid across a photomost film unit has been exposedby actuation of sensitive element of said film unit; said exposingmeans.

i k t t manually operable means engageable with said filml0

1. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of the typeincluding a cassette having means defining an exit in one end thereofthrough which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure,an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposureaperture, a plurality of discrete film units located within saidcassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment with said exit,a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising: means for locating said filmassemblage in said photographic apparatus in position for exposure ofsaid foremost film unit; means including a shutter release for exposingsaid foremost film unit through said exposure aperture in said cassette;film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adaptedto extend into said opening in said cassette to drivingly engage saidforemost film unit near said second end thereof and thereby move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in saidcassette; pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adaptedto drivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit; manually operable means,including a crank, engageable with said film-advancing means and saidpressure-applying means for driving said film-advancing means and saidpressure-applying means simultaneously to continuously move saidforemost film unit from said cassette and between said pressure-applyingmeans and for driving said pressure-applying means at a rate sufficientto at least maintain the rate of movement of said foremost film unit asit is being advanced by said filmadvancing means; disenabling means; andmeans for moving said disenabling means between a first operativeposition in which it prevents rotation of said crank to advance saidforemost film unit from said cassette and a second inoperative positionwherein said crank may be rotated to advance said foremost film unitfrom said cassette, said moving means includes means responsive toactuation of said shutter release for moving said disenabling means fromsaid first operative position to said second inoperative position,whereby rotation of said crank to advance said foremost film unit fromsaid cassette is possible only after actuation of said shutter release.2. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said movingmeans moves said disenabling means from said second inoperative positionto said first operative position prior to said film-advancing meansmoving a succeeding film unit from said cassette, whereby said crank isprevented from driving said film-advancing means to advance saidsucceeding film unit until a subsequent actuation of said shutterrelease.
 3. Photographic apparatus for use with a film assemblage of thetype including a cassette having means defining an exit in one endthereof through which a film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent toexposure, an opening adjacent an opposite end of said cassette and anexposure aperture, a plurality of discrete film units located withinsaid cassette in stacked relation with a foremost one of said film unitsbeing adapted to be urged into a position adjacent said exposureaperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment with said exit,a second end of said film unit opposite said first end being inalignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said film unitbeing located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising: means for locating said filmassemblage in said photographic apparatus in position for exposure ofsaid foremost film unit; shutter means for exposing said foremost filmunit through said exposure aperture in said cassette; film-advancingmeans mounted in said photographic apparatus and adapted to extend intosaid opening in said cassette to drivingly engage said foremost filmunit near said second end thereof and thereby move said foremost filmunit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in said cassette;pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adapted todrivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit; manually operable means,including a crank, engageable with said film-advancing means and saidpressure-applying means for driving said film-advancing means and saidpressure-applying means to continuously move said foremost film unitfrom said cassette and between said pressure-applying means; and meansengageable with said shutter means and responsive to actuation of saidmanually operable means for cocking said shutter means subsequent toexposure of said foremost film unit, said means for cocking said shuttermeans includes a cam mounted for rotation by said crank.
 4. Photographicapparatus for use with a film assemblage of the type including acassette having means defining an exit in one end thereof through whicha film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure, an openingadjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposure aperture, aplurality of discrete film units located within said cassette in stackedrelation with a foremost one of said film units being adapted to beurged into a position adjacent said exposure aperture with a first endof said film unit in alignment with said exit, a second end of said filmunit opposite said first end being in alignment with said opening and aphotosensitive area of said film unit being located in alignment withsaid exposure aperture, said photographic apparatus comprising: meansfor locating said film assemblage in said photographic apparatus inposition for exposure of said foremost film unit; shutter meansincluding a release for exposing said foremost film unit through saidexposure aperture in said cassette; film-advancing means mounted in saidphotographic apparatus and adapted to extend into said opening in saidcassette to drivingly engage said foremost film unit near said secondend thereof and thereby move said foremost film unit, subsequent toexposure, through said exit in said cassette; pressure-applying meansmounted in said apparatus and adapted to drivingly engage said first endof said foremost film unit after it moves through said exit and spread aprocessing liquid across a photosensitive element of said Film unit;manually operable means engageable with said film-advancing means andsaid pressure-applying means for driving said film-advancing means andsaid pressure-applying means to continuously move said foremost filmunit from said cassette and between said pressure applying means; anddisenabling means cooperable with said manually operable means forpreventing the removal of more than one film unit for each actuation ofsaid shutter release.
 5. Photograhic apparatus as defined in claim 4wherein said manually operable means include a crank pivotally coupledto said photographic apparatus and said disenabling means is mounted formovement into the path of rotation of said crank for limiting rotationthereof.
 6. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein saiddisenabling means is movable in response to actuation of said shutterrelease to a position which permits rotation of said crank to move saidforemost film unit out of said container and into engagement with saidpressure-applying means.
 7. Photographic apparatus for use with a filmassemblage of the type including a cassette having means defining anexit in one end thereof through which a film unit is adapted to be movedsubsequent to exposure, an opening adjacent an opposite end of saidcassette and an exposure aperture, a plurality of discrete film unitslocated within said cassette in stacked relation with a foremost one ofsaid film units being adapted to be urged into a position adjacent saidexposure aperture with a first end of said film unit in alignment withsaid exit, a second end of said film unit opposite said first end beingin alignment with said opening and a photosensitive area of said filmunit being located in alignment with said exposure aperture, saidphotographic apparatus comprising: means for locating said filmassemblage in said photographic apparatus in position for exposure ofsaid foremost film unit; means for exposing said foremost film unitthrough said exposure aperture in said cassette; film-advancing meansmounted in said photographic apparatus and adapted to extend into saidopening in said cassette to drivingly engage said foremost film unitnear said second end thereof and thereby move said foremost film unit,subsequent to exposure, through said exit in said cassette;pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adapted todrivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit; and manually operable meansengageable with said film-advancing means and said pressure-applyingmeans for driving said film-advancing means and said pressure-applyingmeans to continuously move said foremost film unit from said cassetteand between said pressure-applying means, said manually operable meansincludes rotatable means having means thereon movable into and out ofdriving engagement with said film-advancing means during each revolutionof said rotatable means, said means being movable out of drivingengagement with said film-advancing means when said foremost film unitis in engagement with said pressure-applying means.
 8. Photographicapparatus for use with a film assemblage of the type including acassette having means defining an exit in one end thereof through whicha film unit is adapted to be moved subsequent to exposure, an openingadjacent an opposite end of said cassette and an exposure aperture, aplurality of discrete film units located within said cassette in stackedrelation with a foremost one of said film units being adapted to beurged into a position adjacent said exposure aperture with a first endof said film unit in alignment with said exit, a second end of said filmunit opposite said first end being in alignment with said opening and aphotosensitive area of said film unit being located in alignment withsaid exposure aperture, said photographic apparatus comprising: meansfor locating said filM assemblage in said photographic apparatus inposition for exposure of said foremost film unit; means for exposingsaid foremost film unit through said exposure aperture in said cassette;film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adaptedto extend into said opening in said cassette to drivingly engage saidforemost film unit near said second end thereof and thereby move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in saidcassette; pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adaptedto drivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit; manually operable meansengageable with said film-advancing means and said pressure-applyingmeans for driving said film-advancing means and said pressure-applyingmeans to continuously move said foremost film unit from said cassetteand between said pressure-applying means; and means for predeterminedlylocating said manually operable means after said foremost film unit hasmoved out of engagement with said pressure-applying means. 9.Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said locating meansprevents actuation of said manually operable means until said foremostfilm unit has been exposed.
 10. Photographic apparatus for use with afilm assemblage of the type including a cassette having means definingan exit in one end thereof through which a film unit is adapted to bemoved subsequent to exposure, an opening adjacent an opposite end ofsaid cassette and an exposure aperture, a plurality of discrete filmunits located within said cassette in stacked relation with a foremostone of said film units being adapted to be urged into a positionadjacent said exposure aperture with a first end of said film unit inalignment with said exit, a second end of said film unit opposite saidfirst end being in alignment with said opening and a photosensitive areaof said film unit being located in alignment with said exposureaperture, said photographic apparatus comprising: means for locatingsaid film assemblage in said photographic apparatus in position forexposure of said foremost film unit; means for exposing said foremostfilm unit through said exposure aperture in said cassette;film-advancing means mounted in said photographic apparatus and adaptedto extend into said opening in said cassette to drivingly engage saidforemost film unit near said second end thereof and thereby move saidforemost film unit, subsequent to exposure, through said exit in saidcassette; pressure-applying means mounted in said apparatus and adaptedto drivingly engage said first end of said foremost film unit after itmoves through said exit and spread a processing liquid across aphotosensitive element of said film unit; manually operable meansengageable with said film-advancing means and said pressure-applyingmeans for driving said film-advancing means and said pressure-applyingmeans to continuously move said foremost film unit from said cassetteand between said pressure-applying means; and means for preventingmovement of said foremost film unit by said film-advancing means untilsaid foremost film unit has been exposed by actuation of said exposingmeans.